Life After Death: Literature Published Posthumously

The Pale King by David Foster Wallace is the latest in a long line of novels to be published posthumously. Putting aside collections of writing, readers are always eager for one more opportunity to devour an original work from a much-loved author who has departed for the great celestial book tour (although we think Charles Bukowski went in the other direction).

The Stieg Larsson phenomenon of recent years has seen his Millennium trilogy enjoy massive worldwide popularity even though the author died a year before his first novel was published. Franz Kafka and John Kennedy Toole were others to only receive recognition after their deaths.

It’s common for unfinished works to be completed by an editor, a fellow writer or even a member of the author’s family. Sometimes the work is finished and printed against the author’s wishes. After an author’s death, publishers scour their vaults for unpublished manuscripts that can prolong sales. This process can backfire with books that were originally considered sub-standard, by the author at least, rushed into print. And then you have Anne Frank’s diary – a book so powerful that it remains essential reading more 65 years after the end of World War II.